Kariya began his career in the Western Hockey League, playing for the Portland Winterhawks. He was a dominant force in the league, leading the team to the Memorial Cup in his final season. He was also named the WHL Player of the Year in 1993-94.
Kariya was selected fourth overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He quickly established himself as one of the league's top players, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1994-95. He was also selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1996-97, and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1997-98.
Kariya spent nine seasons with the Mighty Ducks, and was named the team's captain in 1998-99. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2003, and then to the Nashville Predators in 2005. He returned to the Ducks in 2003-04, and finished his career with the St. Louis Blues in 2009-10.
Kariya was a seven-time NHL All-Star, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. He finished his career with 402 goals and 989 points in 989 games. He was also a two-time Olympic medalist, winning a gold medal with Team Canada in 2002 and a silver medal in 2006.
Kariya's career was cut short due to injuries, but he still managed to leave a lasting legacy on the game of hockey. He was one of the most dynamic and exciting players of his era, and his contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.
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